Metal-plate opener



w. L. JENKINS. METAL PLATE OPENER. APPLICATION FILED 3AM.9, 1920.

1,368,223. Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

w. L. JENKINS.

METAL PLATE OPENER. APPLICATION FILED JAN.9, 920.

1,368,223. Patented Feb. 8,1921

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FICA.

FIGS.

UNITED Slhl'iifi VIILLTAM L. JENKINS, OF NILES, OHIO.

METAL-PLATE OPENER.

{Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed January 9, 1920.. Serial No. 350,417.

T 0 all w item it may conccm- Be it known that T, WILLIAM L. JENKINS, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Niles, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal- Plate Openers, of which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates to metal plates or sheets, and it has particular reference to means whereby piles or stacks of metal plates, which have become somewhat cemented together, or attached to each other in other ways, can be quickly and conveniently separated without damaging the metal.

In order to illustrate the principles involved, the case of steel sheets, such as are used in the manufacture of the so-called tin plate will be considered, although it will be understood that the method and; devices which are applicable here may also be used with the proper modifications in many other cases where metal sheets require separation.

In the process of manufacturing steel plate, there is a step after the steel has been rolled down to a certain thickness in which it is folded double upon itself several times, and the entire pack afterward rolled, thereby reducing the thickness of-each sheet uniformly until the individual sheets have the required thickness. This is, of course, done while the pack is hot, and as a result of the combined heat, pressure and rolling, the sheets become firmly fastened together partly due to the very intimate contact between the adjacent plates, and partly to the fact that the small projections and irregularities of the plates are so interlocked that it is necessary to use considerable force in separating them.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device which will economically and rapidly separate the stacks or plates by a machine process.

In order to do this I have provided a ma chine which carries the stack upon its edge through a passageway of a frame part of a machine. The plate first is subjected to a pair of feed drawers; next it is subjected to a crimping process; the next step provides a hammering process of the sheets by a plurality of hammers spaced apart and placed upon opposite sides of the stack, each set of hammers withdrawing and releasing so as to strike the opposite sides of the pack at the same time.

' Another object of the {invention is to provide a pair of exit rolls through which the pack passes after being subjected to the above mentioned process.

A still further object of the invention is to provide bed feed rolls for aiding in carrying the pack through the passageway above referred to.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel constructions and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings will aid in making clear the principles upon which my separation process is based.

Figure 1 is a top view plan of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device.

-Fig. l is a detailed view.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing means for pulling back and releasing the hammers.

It will be seen by referring to Fig. 1 that I have provided a frame portion 1, this frame'portion 1 carrying a journal 2 pro vided with a driving pulley 3 and idler 4. The end of the journal 2 is provided with a cog wheel 5, which in turn is in alinement with a cog wheel 6, whirh is secured to a shaft 7. The intermediate portion of this shaft 7 carries a beveled gear 8, which registers with a beveled gear 9, which in turn causes the rollers 10 to turn. The other end of the shaft 7 is provided with a beveled gear 11 which registers with a beveled gear 12- causing the rollers 13 to turn.

By referring to F ig. 3 it will be seen that l have provided a passageway 14. Upon the journal 2, l have provided beveled gears. 15 which register with beveled gears 16. The beveled gears 16 are mounted upon shafts 17 Ey referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that this shaft 17 carries cams 18 which are used to pull back the hammers 19, and to release the same at the same time.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the cams 18 in dotted line. The hammers 19 are given their striking power by means of springs 20.

By again referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that I have provided a roller member 21, which is securely fastened to the shafts 17, directly underneath the passage-way it.

By referring to Fig. 2,.it will be seen that have provided idlers 22, which are adjustable to come in contact with the upper edge of the pack when passing through the passage-way 14 By referring to Fig. a, it will be seen that I have provided a crimping member 23, provided with contact faces 2% and 25, which are spaced apart and directly opposite each other. This crimping member 23 is caused to slide back and forth by means of apitman 26, whichis caused to move by being attached to an eccentric 2?, which is ournaled upon the shaft 2.

In operating the device, the pack is fed between the rolls 1?) into the passage-way 14:. It is then subjected toa crimping process which corrugates the stack of sheets. As the sheet travels along the hammers 19 beat the sheet causing the same to be straightened out, and then the stack is passed through the exit rollers 10. By this process the stack has been rolled, crimped, hammered by hammers striking upon the opposite sides at the same time, and subjected to a rolling process as it leaves the machine.

. By referring to F 1, it will be seen that 1 I have provided springs 28, which act upon one of the rollers and13.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame member provided With a passage-way for carrying a pack of metal sheets on its edge, a feed roller, a crimping member provided With two contact faces, said crimping member positioned at right angles to the of each pair of rollers 10 1,3es,22s

passage-Way for the metal sheets, a plural-' ity of pairs of spring hammers spaced apart each pair positioned at right angles to the passageway for the metal sheets and diametrically opposite each other, means for pulling back said hammers and releasing the same, a pair 01" rolls positioned at the exit end of the passage-way for the metal sheets, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the class described, having in combination with a frame member provided with a passage-way for carrying metal sheets upon its edge through said passage-way, carrying rollers positioned at the bottom of said passage-Way, a feed roller, a crimping member provided with two contact faces, said crimping member positioned at right angles to the passage-way for the 7 metal sheets, a plurality of pairs of hammers spaced apart each pair positioned at right angles to the passageway for the'metal sheets and diametrically opposite each other,

means for actuating and pulling back said hammers and releasing the same, a pair of rolls positioned at the exit end of the passage-way for the metal sheets, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

J. A. MEEHAN, O. A. IIARJPMAN. 

